All Roll Calls
Yes: 679 • No: 125
PennsylvaniaHB 962025-2026 Regular SessionHouse
An Act amending the act of July 7, 1947 (P.L.1368, No.542), known as the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, in sale of property, providing for delinquent real estate tax notification to designated individual; . . .providing for unseated lands; and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Sponsored By: Chris Pielli (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Land taxes attach without personal notice
For owners of unseated land, property taxes are a charge against the land, not a personal debt. The land can still be sold for unpaid taxes. Because the sale is a legal action against the property, personal notice to the owner is not required.
Past land buyers gain underground rights
The law gives some buyers at earlier unseated-land tax sales full ownership, including separately owned oil, gas, and mineral rights. The sale must predate this rule's effective date, include the surface, and involve underground rights not separately assessed that tax year. This applies whether or not the buyer owned any property interest when the taxes became due. Underground rights owned by a government at the time of sale are excluded. Ownership remains subject to qualifying redemption shown in official county records or a court order from a case started within the five-year statutory limit.
Property owners can name tax notice contacts
Property owners can name an eligible person to receive overdue property tax notices, whether or not they need help managing notices. The person must be next of kin or an authorized agent, guardian, trustee, or other representative. Owners submit the state designation form to both the county tax bureau and the relevant taxing district. Both offices must then send notices to the owner and the named person. The form requires the owner's name, birth date, contact details, property address, and the contact's name, contact details, and eligibility verification. The Department of Community and Economic Development develops the form and can require other needed information. It must post the form online and distribute copies to taxing districts and area agencies on aging. Owners can cancel in writing to both local offices; designation forms and cancellation notices are confidential and exempt from public-records requests. Naming a contact does not change guardianship authority or depend on a separate guardianship or fiduciary appointment.
Stricter proof for reclaiming tax-sale land
Parties seeking or benefiting from court recognition of redemption—reclaiming unseated land after a tax sale—must provide specific proof. They must show the redemption right existed when the challenged transaction occurred. They must also provide either a recorded exemption receipt or a conveyance document stamped as redeemed, with a matching county record made at the time. For claims of redemption by permission involving county-purchased property, claimants must provide a deed poll or an official county record. That record must note the redemption when it occurred.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Chris Pielli
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Arvind Venkat
Democratic • House
Benjamin V. Sanchez
Democratic • House
Brett R. Miller
Republican • House
Carol Hill-Evans
Democratic • House
Dan K. Williams
Democratic • House
Danielle Friel Otten
Democratic • House
Darisha K. Parker
Democratic • House
Dave Madsen
Democratic • House
Eddie Day Pashinski
Democratic • House
G. Roni Green
Democratic • House
Jeremy Shaffer
Republican • House
Jim Haddock
Democratic • House
Jim Prokopiak
Democratic • House
Joe Ciresi
Democratic • House
Joe Webster
Democratic • House
Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz
Democratic • House
John C. Inglis III
Democratic • House
Jose Giral
Democratic • House
Justin C. Fleming
Democratic • House
La'Tasha D. Mayes
Democratic • House
Lisa A. Borowski
Democratic • House
Liz Hanbidge
Democratic • House
Malcolm Kenyatta
Democratic • House
Melissa Cerrato
Democratic • House
Nancy Guenst
Democratic • House
Nikki Rivera
Democratic • House
Perry S. Warren
Democratic • House
Robert Freeman
Democratic • House
Steve Samuelson
Democratic • House
Tarik Khan
Democratic • House
Tim Twardzik
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 7/12/2026
House Bill 96 PN3767, Final Passage
Yes: 42 • No: 8
House vote • 7/12/2026
House Bill 96 PN3767, MOTION TO RECOMMIT COMMERCE
Yes: 101 • No: 101
Senate vote • 7/11/2026
House Bill 96 PN1627 A04096, YAW Amendment No. A-4096
Yes: 36 • No: 14
committee vote • 3/23/2026
22 0
Yes: 22 • No: 0
committee vote • 6/11/2025
11 0
Yes: 11 • No: 0
House vote • 5/7/2025
House Bill 96 PN1627, FINAL PASSAGE
Yes: 201 • No: 2
committee vote • 5/7/2025
37 0
Yes: 37 • No: 0
House vote • 5/6/2025
House Bill 96 PN0079 A00439
Yes: 203 • No: 0
committee vote • 4/8/2025
26 0
Yes: 26 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act No. 27 of 2026
7/12/2026GovernorApproved by the Governor
7/12/2026GovernorPresented to the Governor
7/12/2026HouseSigned in Senate
7/12/2026HouseSigned in House
7/12/2026HouseHouse concurred in Senate amendments (167-35)
7/12/2026HouseRe-reported on concurrence, as committed
7/12/2026HouseReferred to Rules
7/12/2026HouseThird consideration and final passage (42-8)
7/12/2026SenateAmended on third consideration (36-14)
7/11/2026SenateRemoved from table
6/30/2026SenateLaid on the table
6/30/2026SenateRemoved from table
6/3/2026SenateLaid on the table
6/3/2026SenateRe-reported as committed
3/23/2026SenateRe-referred to Appropriations
6/23/2025SenateSecond consideration
6/23/2025SenateFirst consideration
6/11/2025SenateReported as committed
6/11/2025SenateReferred to Urban Affairs & Housing
5/22/2025SenateThird consideration and final passage (201-2)
5/7/2025HouseRe-reported as committed
5/7/2025HouseRe-committed to Appropriations
5/6/2025HouseSecond consideration, with amendments
5/6/2025HouseRemoved from table
5/5/2025House
Bill Text
PN 3767
7/11/2026
PN 1627
5/6/2025
PN 79
1/14/2025
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